“It could have easily been my son on the other side. I don’t want him to go to jail. I couldn’t live with myself if anything bad happened to him in jail. I forgive him — I love him.”

Mother 2 walked to the podium . . .

She never thought that she would be able to utter . . .”No jail.”

Although she would never see her son graduate high school. She uttered “No jail”

Although she would never kiss her grandchildren. She uttered, “No jail”

You see this story mimics Christ’s love for us. When we deserved the greatest punishment – Christ said “No Hell”.

In fact, Christ said, I’ll take the punishment for you. And so arms wide stretched he died for you and me.

So Forgive.

Forgive because it’s freeing.

Forgive Wide.

Forgive Big.

Forgive Deep.

And know that Christ heals all wounds . . .

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32